Upcoming September 25, 2026, by Mark Sammut: I’ve updated all the information and added Witchbrook and Nivalis Nights.
At any given moment, there are dozens of new role-playing games about to release, and the genre has not had a quiet 2026 so far. From expansive open worlds to isometric adventures and turn-based throwbacks, RPGs come in enough shapes and sizes to satisfy every single player, even if not every game is meant to please everyone. Over the next few years, we will get our hands on a wide range of sequels, remakes, reboots, and new IPs, all of which could very well end up as RPG royalty.
With so many releases, keeping track of every noteworthy upcoming RPG can be exhausting. While I cannot possibly cover every single worthwhile project, I can at least provide a detailed breakdown of the biggest games on the horizon, focusing primarily on titles that seem likely to drop in 2026 and 2027.
Nivalis Nights Lets You Live The Cyberpunk Life On September 29
A Life Sim, Business Management RPG
Let’s kick things off with a game that might not immediately scream “RPG” but contains enough elements of the genre to qualify. Nivalis Nights is a life sim set in a cyberpunk city, letting you build your fortune and legacy by gradually climbing the economic ranks. Starting with only a noodle stand, players must decide how they spend their day, and they don’t have to focus solely on expanding their business; after all, building relationships is just as important.
Generally, life sims and management games are considered separate genres from RPGs, but Nivalis Nights contains more than enough elements to warrant a mention. Ultimately, you role-play as a citizen, and your choices determine your path and life. Honestly, is there anything more RPG than that? The gameplay seems to be quite open-ended, giving you control to do what you want.
Aion 2 Lands In North America On October 5
A New Korean MMORPG
Released in South Korea and Taiwan in 2025, Aion 2 should finally drop in Europe and North America in September 2026, and hype has been building for the global release. The Western version will be solely available on PC, meaning it is designed entirely with that ecosystem in mind, rather than being a mobile game stretched for home use. The original Aion was a massive deal when it first released, although it eventually followed the same life as most MMORPGs from the late 2000s.
Built on Unreal Engine 5, Aion 2 seems to be one heck of a looker, bringing to life the world of Ateria in a map that is way, way bigger than its predecessor’s. The sequel seems to aim to blend traditional MMORPG fundamentals with modern systems and polish; for instance, it should have tab-targeting and manual-action combat with dodging. The game supports both PvE and PvP, and the latter will hopefully be more than playable with the basic subscription.
Aion 2 is technically free-to-play, but from what I understand, you do kind of need the $16 subscription.
Valor Mortis Takes You To France On October 13
A First-Person Soulslike RPG
Revealed during Gamescom 2025, Valor Mortis looks set to shift the Soulslike RPG genre into first-person territory, a concept that has arguably yet to produce a really great game. One More Level is primarily known for the Ghostrunner games, both of which have satisfying combat that prioritizes quick thinking and one-hit kills. Valor Mortis will likely feature longer battles, but the developer has already proven their ability to craft intense, smooth first-person combat.
Valor Mortis has a fascinating setting, with the story set during Napoleon’s reign. As a soldier who dies in battle, you awaken in hell on Earth, as corruption has spread and left the world filled with all sorts of entities that should not exist. Sounds like a brilliant concept for a dark fantasy RPG.
Phantom Blade Zero Drops On October 29
A Wuxia RPG
One of the most highly anticipated action RPGs of the last few years, Phantom Blade Zero has looked ridiculously awesome in every showcase. Developed and published by S-GAME, the game draws on Wuxia, a genre focused on Chinese martial arts that has gained traction internationally through donghua and a slow influx of games.
You play as Soul, a warrior with only sixty-six days left to live. Fend off assassins, unravel world-ending conspiracies, and defend your values with your life.
Specifically, Phantom Blade Zero is set in an alternate reality known as the Phantom World, a setting that should blend genres such as steampunk and horror. Players will get to control an assassin who is framed for the murder of his organization’s head, forcing him to try to clear his name before he dies in roughly two months. The story seems interesting, but Phantom Blade Zero has primarily attracted attention for its fast-paced combat, which looks incredible in the footage. Based on the available information, the game will not have Souls-like combat, which is kind of refreshing.
Witchbrook Should Finally Launch In 2026
Chucklefish’s Social RPG
Chucklefish and Robotality’s Witchbrook has been “coming soon” for a while, but the end of the road should be near. Although the developer has plenty of tactical RPG experience thanks to the Wargroove games, Witchbrook shifts away from strategy and toward social mechanics. Set in the seaside town of Mossport, you start life as a student entering Witchbrook College, where you will get to study, explore, make friends, attend classes, master the arts, take exams, fall in love, and eventually graduate.
As far as I know, combat will not be part of the equation, as Witchbrook seems to be designed as a relaxing social sim that lets you role-play as an average student rather than the savior of humanity or, well, Harry Potter. Chucklefish has confirmed that 4-player co-op will be available, so you can embrace the magic alongside a few friends.
Persona 4 Revival Sucks You Into TV On February 18, 2027
The Next Persona Masterpiece (Is A Remake Of An Old Persona Masterpiece)
A new Persona game is always a cause for celebration, even when it is a remake. As shown by Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Revival has every chance of becoming the definitive version of one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. The remake will keep the story intact, since there’s no point in messing with perfection, while bringing everything else up to current-day standards so it can sit alongside its predecessor’s remake and its successor.
So far, we know quite a bit about Persona 4 Revival, and the most important reveal is that the TV World dungeon will feature different settings rather than just a single level repeated forever. P3R added plenty of quality-of-life improvements to Tartarus, so the safe bet is to expect something similar in the upcoming remake. P4R should be incredible.
Persona 6 is also confirmed! I didn’t want to double down on the franchise, but P6 is one of the most highly anticipated JRPGs of the 2020s.
Fable Returns To Albion On February 23, 2027
A Return Of A Beloved Action RPG Franchise
Fable has been dormant for roughly a decade by this point, and the last mainline, numbered entry was the divisive Fable 3. Lionhead Studios’ sad closure did not suggest the franchise’s future was bright (or even that it had one), but the series is set to return with a brand-new developer. Playground Games is handling the upcoming Fable, a reboot that will hopefully mark the start of a new era for an IP that once seemed full of promise.
Known for Forza Horizon, Playground is certainly a peculiar choice for a large-scale action RPG, but the studio definitely knows a thing or two about crafting gorgeous open worlds. Obviously, Fable‘s Albion will share little in common with the team’s previous outings, but everything we have seen so far suggests that Playground might be crafting something special. Player choice and exploration seem to be the main focus.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Ends The Trilogy On April 8, 2027
The Biggest JRPG Of Next Year
Here it is; the biggest upcoming RPG of 2027, and by quite a margin. Square Enix’s retelling of Final Fantasy 7 should finally come to an end with Revelation, which should immediately pick up after the events of Rebirth. Once again set in an open world, the sequel introduces Highwind, an airship that should let Cloud and the gang travel easily across the map and simply drop into areas. Sounds really great in concept.
In terms of gameplay, we imagine the actual combat will remain largely the same, albeit with new characters like Cid and Vincent Valentine. The biggest mechanical difference seems to be the introduction of Function Integrated Tactical Suitwear, a new job system that lets characters wear equipment from different classic classes. This concept should greatly enhance the build and party options, which were already decent in the previous entries.
Outward 2 Challenges You To Survive In 2027
An RPG Sequel That Could Build On A Strong Foundation
Outward might not be brilliant, but it has a unique identity and scratches an itch that few action RPGs reach. Known for being hard-as-nails and anti-hand-holding, Nine Dots’ original game dropped players in a city and told them to head out and act as adventurers. There is no big looming threat that you must overcome or beacons to reach; no, it is up to you to craft your own story. As exciting as the concept was, Outward‘s rough combat and punishing early hours made it an acquired taste that is best recommended to a relatively small audience.
Outward 2 seems set to maintain its predecessor’s approach to difficulty and blend of genres, with survival elements still being part of the equation. Like before, you will leave your hometown in search of adventure, and you decide where to go, what to risk, and how to prepare. The latter is extremely important too, as a lack of planning is a death sentence.
Pokemon Winds and Waves Sell A Billion Copies In 2027
Pokemon’s 10th Generation Starts Soon
Like clockwork, every 3 or 4 years, a new Pokemon generation debuts. Scarlet and Violet launched in 2022 and produced DLC throughout the next 18 months. In 2025, Legends: Z-A hit store shelves, effectively bringing the 9th generation to a close. Consequently, it was only a matter of time before the next era was revealed, and Pokemon Winds and Waves were finally announced in March 2026.
For now, we only know a few things about the upcoming game. We know Winds and Waves‘ starter Pokemon, and we know that the region will be divided into islands and will come with a Southeast Asian flavor. We also know that The Pokemon Company is targeting a 2027 release, which we can assume will happen towards the end of the year. Not a lot to go off, but a new Pokemon is always a big deal.
Guild Wars 3 Enters Beta In Fall 2027
The Most Hyped Up MMORPG
Apart from maybe The Witcher 4 and The Elder Scrolls 6, Guild Wars 3 is arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming RPG, as long as you are into the multiplayer side of things. A prequel set more than a thousand years before the original game, GW3 presents Orr before the Cataclysm or corruption, taking players back to a time of lush greens and tropical wilderness.
While not everyone has received the “prequel” news with open arms, the game will explore a largely mysterious part of history, and it could shed deeper light on some of the more fascinating aspects of the lore. Guild Wars 3 should mark a return to skill collecting and build-crafting, while providing a more action-style combat system that prioritizes positioning and movement.
Here are some other things to know that ArenaNet explicitly confirmed:
- Buy-to-play game; no subscription
- No pay-to-win elements
- It won’t aim to replicate the large-scale gameplay pillars of GW2, instead opting to be somewhere in the middle between its two predecessors
Soulframe Continues To Prepare For Its Official Release
Digital Extremes’ Next Free Action RPG
Free-to-play RPGs often sound too good to be true, but if there’s one developer that deserves the benefit of the doubt, it’s Digital Extremes. For all its highs and lows, Warframe spent the best part of a decade as a cornerstone of the free market, cementing itself as the prime example of how to do this model right (for a while). Soulframe represents the next chapter for the team, and it’s trading sci-fi for fantasy.
Just to be clear, Digital Extremes isn’t doing a fantasy Warframe, despite the upcoming game’s title suggesting otherwise. Soulframe seems to focus on slower, more tactical combat that incorporates dodging, positioning, and parrying. The team specifically cited Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke as an inspiration for the art style, resulting in a vibrant world that emphasizes nature.
While the project is likely still a bit away, Soulframe‘s Preludes closed pre-alpha receives frequent updates, so the signs are promising
Light No Fire Will Not Be Rushed
An Ambitious Fantasy Open-World RPG From The Makers Of No Man’s Sky
The rehabilitation of Hello Games’ reputation has been so extraordinary that, in 2026, “from the creators of No Man’s Sky” inspires unbridled excitement. Light No Fire is the developer’s next effort, although its release is likely still a few years away. While seemingly incorporating elements from their previous (and current) masterpiece, the upcoming release will 100% fall within the RPG genre, all the while offering a vast open-world that demands exploration and experimentation. Rather than give you the universe, Hello Games is focusing on just one planet, which happens to be the size of Earth (but isn’t Earth).
In its marketing, Light No Fire is specifically cited to be about “adventure, building, survival, and exploration together,” the latter of which emphasizes online co-op as a central feature. “Survival” suggests a specific type of experience, although it remains to be seen whether the game goes down the hardcore route or opts for a more accessible approach.
The Witcher 4 Is A Long Way Off But It Is Coming
CD Projekt Red’s Next Big Open-World RPG
CD Projekt Red has a big future planned for The Witcher, and that includes the start of the next chapter/trilogy. The Witcher 4 is on the horizon, and it is an exciting time to be a fan of open-world RPGs or just games in general. While Cyberpunk 2077‘s debut state reduced CD Projekt Red’s public goodwill, the developer’s post-launch commitment helped right a few of those initial wrongs, and the game is nowadays in good shape.
More importantly, The Witcher 3 is still largely regarded as one of the greatest Western RPGs of all time, and time has done very little to dull its shine. While Geralt makes his comeback in 2027, The Witcher 4 features a new protagonist, and Ciri was always the most obvious pick. Well, The Game Awards’ trailer largely confirmed that rumor, with the powerful character being front and center. At this point, almost nothing is known about the sequel’s direction, except for Ciri seeming to be a few years older than in Wild Hunt. Popular characters like Dandelion are confirmed to be returning in The Witcher 4.
Bethesda Takes Its Time
It was only a matter of time before The Elder Scrolls 6 was revealed, although that is essentially all that Bethesda has done. Except for some minor details that can be surmised from the few seconds of footage that have been released so far, the game is still largely a mystery; however, TES 6 is one of those upcoming RPGs that only needs to exist to generate hype.
Realistically, Bethesda’s sequel is still a few years away from a debut, and the publisher’s recent track record has been a touch hit and miss. Nevertheless, it would be shocking if TES 6 does not wind up as one of the best-selling games of all time.
Fallout 5 is also confirmed to be in development.
